Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China
China: Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods was 80.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China, 1970–2017
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of women ages 15-49.
Analysis
The most recent figure for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China is 80.5%, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China peaked at 86.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 1970.
China ranks 2nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13.5% | — |
| 1971 | 17.3% | +28.1% |
| 1972 | 22.5% | +30.3% |
| 1973 | 28.4% | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 34.4% | +21.1% |
| 1975 | 40.6% | +18.0% |
| 1976 | 45.2% | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 48.4% | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 50.2% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 53.7% | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 54.6% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 54.7% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 58.2% | +6.4% |
| 1983 | 64.2% | +10.4% |
| 1984 | 66.3% | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 66.2% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 65.7% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 69.3% | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 73.2% | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 83.3% | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 86.2% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 84.0% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 80.5% | -4.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 80.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.1%, 1.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- China's 80.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.2%, 1.5× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.4% | 13.5% | 53.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.6% | 54.6% | 73.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 83.3% | 83.3% | 83.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 85.1% | 84.0% | 86.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 80.5% | 80.5% | 80.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China?
- Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods in China was 80.5% in 2017, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 1970.
- How does China rank for contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods?
- China ranks 2nd out of 113 countries with data for 2017.
- Is contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Contraceptive usage: modern methods vs. any methods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of women using contraceptive methods, among those aged 15–49 and married or in union. This is compared between modern methods and any method (modern or traditional).